General
Formula E may get feeder series for young talent
- GPblog.com
Formula E is getting more and more popular every year. Lots of cities are applying to host an ePrix and drivers consider the electric class as one of the most important racing series in the world. A slight drawback is that drivers in FE could not gain experience with this specific type of cars in any other class. This could change soon, believes Dilbagh Gill
There are increasingly concrete plans to create a feeder series for Formula E as well. If it is up to initiator Dilbagh Gill, the driving force behind the Mahindra team during the 2014-2022 period, there will be a separate class in which modified Gen2 cars will be driven. Currently, teams in the FE drive Gen3 cars.
First race as early as 12 months from now
Former F1 and FE driver Nick Heidfeld is one of the people committed to the project. The German, who mainly acts as an ambassador, is going to help ensure that the training class can be active as early as 12 months from now. Indeed, Gill told The Race in Hyderabad to hold the first race next year. However, there is a realisation that there is still very much work to be done.
Until now, Formula E has mostly had drivers who previously caused a furore in F1, F2 and or the World Endurance Championship. Reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne, for example, drove Grands Prix for McLaren. Two-time, former champion Jean- Éric Vergne has a past with Toro Rosso, now AlphaTauri. Pascal Wehrlein, also once racing in F1, is currently the leader in the FE championship.